Horse-collar fastener



(No Model.)

B. H. HELMING, J12, & J. M. MOINTYRE.

HORSE COLLAR FASTENER.

No. 445,177. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

UmThn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNIIARD ll. IIELMING, JR, AND J OIIN M. MCIN'ITYRE, OF MILIVAUKEE, VISCONSIN.

HORSE-COLLAR FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,177, dat d Jan ary 27, 1891- Application filed May 8, 1890. Serial No. 350,977. (No model.)

To all "whom it may concern:

Bait known that We, BERNHARD II. HELM- ING, J12, and JOHN M. MoINTYRE, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented newand useful Improvements in Ilorse-Collar Fastcnings; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our intention relates to improvements in that class of horse-collar fastenings which are affixed to the lower en d of a horse-collar formed in two parts, which parts meet at, their lower ends, our fastening being adapted to secure them together.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is the lower portion of a horse-collar in central vertical section, showing the two parts into which the collar is divided, with our improved fastening attached thereto, and portions of the hames and the halite-strap. Fig. 2 is a view of our complete device. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of our device on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, with transverse section of the collar to which the device is attached.

The collar A is formed in two parts 15 B, which meet at the lower central point, as shown in Fig. 1,the top of the collar being so flexible as to permit the parts to separate a distance from each other at their lower ends. The hames O 0 rest in grooves therefor in the collar in the manner in common use. These haines are provided with loops I) I), through which the hame-strap E passes, which hame strap is doubled upon itself and secures the hames lirmly to the collar in the manner in common use.

In our device a metal plate F is atiixed to one part B of the collar in the groove, being so located that the inner end of the plate is flush with the end of the part of the collar. Another metal plate G is affixed to the other part1 of the collar, being located in the groove. in its edge, the plate being provided with a shoulder II, which is practically the inner end of the body part of the plate, which shoulder II is located at the end of the part B opposite to and so as to meet the end of the plate F,

affixed to the other part of the collar. This plate G- is provided with a projection I, which when the two parts of the collar are together, as shown in Fig. 1., overlaps the plate F and fits against it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These two plates F and G are preferably formed with a concave exterior surface in transverse section and are made somewhat thickercentrally longitudinally than at their edges, so as to adapt them to fit with some degree of accuracy to the depression or groove in the collar. They are also secured to the collar conveniently by means of rivets K K. A button I. has a stem N, which is pivoted in the plate I1. The button I; is elongated laterally and a slot M is provided in the projec' tion I, through which slot the elongated button passes freely when turned in the same direction, but which button, having passed through the slot and being turned transversely thereof, is adapted to engage the projection I and hold the parts of the collar together. That part N of the stem of the button which is just outside of the plateF and which is adapted to enter the projection I is made of considerable size laterally, and has a diameter that is considerably more than the thickness of the button, which part N enters and fits in a correspondingly enlarged part M of the slot H. This enlarged part N of the stem of the button, which fits into a corresponding part M of the slot M in projection I, is adapted when therein to hold the two parts of the fastener in position with reference to each other not permitting any relative motion endwisc. The inner surface of the button is formed to lit the outer surface of the projection I, and the button isprcfcrably made concave in transverse section, whereby it is adapted to receive therein the inner part of the hame-strap, and the button is preferably constructed with a keeper 0 formed integrally with the button and projectinginwardly from the out-er edge at one side partly across the but-ton, forming a recess or space between it and the outer concave surface of the button, within which the hame-strap may be received and whereby the hame-strap is retained in its position in the button and the button is thereby secured against accidentally turning longitudinally of the fastening, whereby the plates F and G might be released from each other when not desired.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a horsecollar formed in two parts, which parts meet together at their-lower ends, of two metal plates of less width than the collar, secured on the outside rigidly to the collarin the groove thereof, one plate to each part, the inner ends of the metal plates being flush with the ends of the collar and arranged to abut together when the two parts of the collar meet each other, a projec- 4 tion on one of the plates extending beyond the end thereof, which when the two parts are together overlaps the other plate and is provided with a longitudinal slot, and an elongated button pivoted in the other plate and arranged to pass through the slotin the projection and to be turned at rightangles thereto, thereby locking the two parts of the collar together, the outer surface of the button being concave transversely of the plates when the two parts are locked together thereby, whereby the button is adapted to receive the hame-strap therein and to be thereby held against rotation, substantially as described.

2. In a horse-collar formed in two parts and provided with rigid metal plates, a projection on one of which plates overlaps the other plate and is provided with a longitudinal slot therein, an'elongated but-ton pivoted to the plate, having no projection and adapted to pass through-the slot in the projection on the other plate and to be turned at right angles thereto, the elongated ends of WhlCh but-ton are turned outwardly, one being provided with an inwardly-turned keeper forming with the outer surface of the button a recess extending transversely of the collar, adapted to receive therein the hame-strap, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we alfix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BERNHARD H. HELMING, JR. JOHN M. MOINTYRE.

\Nitnesses:

O. T. BENEDICT, ANNA FAUST. 

